Hypnosis,
Biofeedback, and
Meditation
Lesson 7-2
Bell Ringer
• Read exploring psychology p. 191
Objectives
• Determine how hypnosis relates to
consciousness
• Describe research into such
techniques as biofeedback and
meditation.
What is hypnosis?
• Hypnosis– a form of altered consciousness in
which people become highly
suggestible to changes in behavior
and thought.
– Go into what is called a hypnotic
trance.
Hypnosis
• Franz Anton Mesmer- first person to
practice hypnosis
• thought body was full of magnetic
fluid that could become misaligned
• would pass a magnet over the body
to realign the blood
Hypnosis
• Later, he said he had animal
magnetism
• said his patients were mesmerized
Hypnosis
• People can’t be hypnotized unless
they want to be
• A person can’t be made to do things
they wouldn’t do when they were
awake.
Theories of Hypnosis
• Under hypnosis, people can more
easily imagine and remember things
Uses of Hypnosis
• Hypnotists can suggest things for
the participants to remember or
forget when the trance is over.
– Called posthypnotic suggestion
– lady who couldn’t hear word
psychology
• Has been used to help people lose
weight and quit smoking
Uses of Hypnosis
• Has been used to help Olympic
athletes achieve peak performances
• Hypnotic analgesia refers to
reduction of pain due to hypnosis
• Help people gain insight into their
lives and work out their problems
Biofeedback
• A technique where a person learns to
control their internal physiological
processes
– light goes off every time your heart
rate too high, you learn to control
heart rate
– t.v. show
Biofeedback
• Have taught people to control
frontalis muscle in the forehead to
reduce tension headaches.
• Has been used to help asthma
suffers learn to control and relieve
the tightening of the muscles around
the airways
Meditation
• The focusing of attention to clear
one’s mind and produce relaxation.
• 3 major types
– transcendental meditationinvolves mental repetition
Meditation
– Mindfulness meditation
• from the Buddhists
• focus on the present moment
• move your focus through the
body
Meditation
• Breath meditation– concentrating on one’s respiration
– also used to help people lower heart
rates and blood pressure
Meditation
• One of the tools of meditation is
koan- a riddle or question that has no
answer
• provokes concentration and selfcontrol
• What is the sound of one hand
clapping?
Meditation
• What did your face look like before
your parents were born?